The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know
Panic! at the Disco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It grows like fancy flowers but it grows nowhere
My hair, my hair
If I could build my house just like the Trojan horse
I'd put a statue of myself upon the shelf
Of course, of course, of course
She's the smoke, she's dancin' fancy pirouettes
Swan diving off of the deep end of my tragic cigarette
She's steam laughing on the windowpanes
The never-ending swaying haze
Oh, that ever smiling maze
Oh, that ever smiling maze
A ballet
Everything's gone missing
I've lost more songs to floods
I can't prove this makes any sense but
I sure hope that it does
Perhaps I was born with curiosity
The likes of those of old crows
The likes of those of old crows
And oh, how the piano knows
The piano knows something I don't know
I won't cut my beard and I won't change my hair
It grows like fancy flowers but it grows nowhere
My hair, my hair
If I could build my house just like the Trojan horse
I'd put a statue of myself upon the shelf
Of course, of course, of course
Of course, of course, of course
Of course, of course, of course
Of course
The lyrics of The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know by Panic! at the Disco are complex and open to interpretation. The song is about the complexities of life and the constant search for meaning and understanding. The opening verses reflect on the singer's appearance and how they refuse to change who they are to fit in with societal norms. They choose to let their hair and beard grow wild and free, like fancy flowers, not caring about the superficial opinions of others.
The middle section of the song reflects on the singer's relationship with a mysterious "she." She is described as smoke, dancing in fancy pirouettes and swan diving off of the deep end of the singer's tragic cigarette. She is steam, laughing on the windowpanes, and the never-ending swaying haze. The imagery here is chaotic and hints at a tumultuous relationship with someone who is not easily understood but is still captivating.
The final section of the song reflects on the singer's own thoughts and feelings. They feel like everything they once knew is missing and lost to floods. They are unsure if their search for understanding makes any sense, but they still hope that it does. They describe themselves as having the curiosity of an old crow and reflect on how the piano seems to know something that they do not. The song ends with a repetition of the opening verses, emphasizing that the singer remains true to themselves even in the face of uncertainty and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't cut my beard and I won't change my hair
I refuse to conform to societal expectations and change my appearance
It grows like fancy flowers but it grows nowhere
My hair appears aesthetically pleasing but has no practical use
If I could build my house just like the Trojan horse
If given the opportunity, I would create a masterpiece of deceit akin to the Trojan horse
I'd put a statue of myself upon the shelf
I would proudly display a sculpture of myself for all to admire
She's the smoke
Referring to a woman, she is elusive and difficult to grasp
She's dancin' fancy pirouettes
She is graceful and performs difficult, impressive movements
Swan diving off of the deep end
She is taking a risk, like a competitive diver jumping off a high platform
Of my tragic cigarette
The woman is metaphorically linked to the singer's negative habits
She's steam
Continuing the metaphorical comparisons, the woman is reminiscent of steam rising and disappearing
Laughing on the windowpanes
The woman brings a sense of happiness and joy to the singer's life
The never-ending swaying haze
The woman's presence creates a continuous, wavering aura surrounding the singer
Oh, that ever smiling maze
The woman's mystery and allure is both captivating and confusing
Ballet
A graceful and artistic form of dance, alluding to the elegance of the woman
Everything's gone missing
The singer is feeling lost and directionless
I've lost more songs to floods
The singer has lost creative inspiration due to overwhelming events
I can't prove this makes any sense but
The singer's current state of mind may seem illogical, but it is his reality
I sure hope that it does
The singer desires for his thoughts and feelings to have purpose and meaning
Perhaps
The singer is unsure and hesitant about his next move
I was born with curiosity
The singer has an inherent desire to explore and learn
The likes of those of old crows
The curiosity the singer possesses is akin to that of old, wise birds
And oh, how the piano knows
The artist is turning to a piano as a source of comfort, wisdom, and understanding
The piano knows something
The piano holds insight and knowledge beyond the artist's understanding
I don't know
The singer acknowledges his lack of understanding, but seeks enlightenment from the piano
Of course, of course, of course
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the singer's certainty and determination in his beliefs
Of course, of course, of course
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the singer's certainty and determination in his beliefs
Of course, of course, of course
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the singer's certainty and determination in his beliefs
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brendon Urie, George Ross, Jonathan Walker, Spencer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sakura-chan
on Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time
tonight we are victorious champagne pouring over us all my friends we're glorious tonight we are victorious